Sorry about such a long wait! I had to find the right opportunities to type this without anyone knowing. I hope you can forgive.
"I'll be at Kim's, Mom!" It's been a very busy week filled with all kinds of drama. Kim kept pestering about some half-assed apology, Brian has been especially frustrating with his annoying posing, and Jack is even grading on my nerves about trying to convince Jerry that, and I quote, 'what he say, wasn't what he thought he saw."
Speaking of him, he's is the most disturbing.
He's spoken to me like he's my friend and hasn't messed with me all week…physically. Kim, once again, drew my attention to the Puerto Rican. I would have dreams of where he'd live, what his siblings look like, how nice his mother is. I've been so spaced out that my mother has to snap me back into Spanish lessons and scold me about it. Apparently I speak my thoughts out because she would ask:
"Who's this Jerry? Is he cute?"
I haven't had a collection of 24 hours of rest since last Friday so long story short, whatever bull you want to pull, will burn up my already short fuse.
Walking down the street after closing the door and watching both sides of the road I went down Kim's way, feeling my mother's eyes on me the whole way. She doesn't like it when I go out so late at night, probably because of where she grew up, but I think she's overprotective. Pulling out my cell phone, I dial Kim's number.
"Hello."
"Hey Kim, it's-"
"GRACE! Look, I am so sorry!" Ugh, I do not have the patience for this.
"KIM! I am coming over right now."
"So you-"
"Don't apologize, just let me in so I can talk to you." The line went silent. "Agreed?"
"Yeah."
"Good." The mili- no- nanosecond the call ends, I'm yanked into two surprisingly strong arms.
"It's nice seeing you again, Grace." Mr. Crawford sees us as he passed by.
"Hi…Mr..Crawford." I somehow choke out. Damn, how strong is Kim?! Thankfully I'm not the only one to notice.
"Kimberly, I know you don't want her to faint now, do you?" Mr. Crawford says.
"What?" It's about time she pulled back, seeing how blue I'm turning. "oh my gosh! I am so so-"
"No." I raise my hand in a halting matter as I regain my breathe.
"But this was-" I sent her a 'it still counts' look. "Nevermind."
"Thank you. Anyway, can I stay for the night?"
"You're lucky I don't have work tomorrow so yes. That and your mother just called me asking if you made it here safe. There are leftovers in the fridge, and don't stay up too late you two." Mr. Crawford said before walking away. Sometimes your second father is the best because my father would have never let me pull that off.
"Hey Grace-" Kim begins, probably to secretly apologize again, but I stop her.
"Kim how sorry are you?"
"The most sorry."
"I mean really sorry."
"I am truly the most sorry." This here, believe it or not, is a common slip-up in misguided hearts. She is not truly sorry indeed only the most sorry, but I need her help in what I'm about to do next. Plus, I secretly forgave her the moment she realized that she could be wrong for once.
"Then help me." I say.
"With what?" I take her upstairs to her room and close the door.
"Help me sneak out."
"What?!" she yells, so I have to shush her in order for her to keep it down. "Why?" she respond quieter.
"Because that Martinez kid is hiding something."
"'That Martinez Kid'" she scoffs, "that is what we're calling him now?"
"Yes. " I say. "Anyway, he's hiding something big. You know my reputation of a matchmaker outshines my investigation rep, but it's still there. "
What gives you the idea that he's hiding something?"
"Just a hunch." I shrug, She crosses arms and rolled her eyes.
"Well I'm not helping you sneak out."
"I'll only be gone a few hours!"
"What're you going to do anyway? Follow him?" She laughs.
"Technically, yes." I made my way towards her window. If you've ever seen the back, there's a wall ladder of vines like you see in crumby Disney princess movies. I open the window up but she stands in my way of the exit.
"I'm not letting you out." She was trying to be serious, and was actually succeeding, but sadly (for her) I know a trick. It's gross, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I jutted a finger underneath one of her armpits, making her crumble that way onto the floor. As she laughed, I took that time to make my escape. Climbing out the window and down the ladder I ran out of her backyard.
"See you later, don't wait up!" Finally! I ran my way to the bus station and stood in line, not seeing Jerry anywhere. People are getting on and…paying! We have to pay for public transportation?! Good thing I always have my…bag! Where is it?
"Cash only ma'am." The bus driver says to me.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have any money."
"Then get off my bus." He said rudely. I begin to go off, after all I came unprepared, until a clinging sound stopped me. I turn to see an old man with wrinkles and white hair smiling tiredly at me.
"The tab is on me. " The bus driver grunted his response before I sat down next to the kind man.
"Thank you. You really didn't have to do that for me, though. ". He just smiled, the wrinkles looking more like bags as they piled under his eyes.
"No worries." He said. "So what brings you here so late at night? I didn't pay for you to run away just now, did I?"
"No." I laugh. I guess not all people on the bus are rude, but I do need to think of an excuse. I mean, the guy just paid my bill. "I'm going to see an old friend."
"Oh, Alright." He sits there and looks at me. For about three minutes. This is kind of scaring me because he's not smiling or anything and- WHY THE HELL IS HE STARING?!
"I'm sorry sir but is there a reason as to why you are staring at me?" I ask quiet roughly.
"I apologize. It's just that… is your name Grace by any chance?" He asks curiously.
"Uhmm…" Should I tell him? Before I can come up with a response (real or not is my opinion), he smiles a wide toothed smile and slightly laughs.
"I understand now." Is all he says.
"How do you know my name?" I ask him, but he lifts his hand to pull some orange string and the bus stops with a ding. The man stands up, smile still on his face, and turns back to me saying "It was nice meeting you, Ms. Do'Herty." Before he leaves. I look out the window and only one word can get through my head:
DANG!
These houses-mansions- are huge! They have those winding driveways that seem to go onto miles and huge iron gates with shiny gold plating and tons of acres of land! I f this is where he lives, why should I feel guilty about his spending a few cents on a poor girl like me? How did he know who I was? Who told him about me? He didn't look like the reminiscence of anyone I know. And when does this thing turn around?
Suddenly the bus stops. "Alright, get off. " The rude bus driver says as he opens the door and steps out. Why is he getting off? Looking out the window and I notice that the beautiful and luxurious mansions are no longer there, they were replaced by small businesses huddled on one street corner and dark alleys where you may not want to roam. Am I still in Seaford?
"Excuse me," I ask the bus driver who was on their way packing, "but do you know how to get to Seaford from here?"
He scoffs. "Little girl this is Seaford. Brooktown or Downtown Seaford to be exact." And with that he walks off. "I'd advise you to watch out, but you're not my responsibility." He roughly laughs as he turns the corner. Great, Now I'm alone.
As I walk through the streets,I see things that I don't think I should be seeing until I am at least eighteen. People are giving me weird looks, like that guy with his hand traveling up some girl's dress. Nothing feels right here, it's like the ghetto of Seaford.
"I said quiet!" I hear a harsh but young voice say. Slightly turning around the corner, keeping my back against the wall, I listen to the rest of the conversation.
"Por Favor, mi no hablo ingles!" The voice sounded so young, she can't be more than a few years old. I take a look and see a little girl, maybe four years old at least, cornered by two twelve year olds. Who knew crime started this early?
"We said shut up!" One of them said, "We just want your money you little brat, then you can scram."
"L-lo seinto!" There it is again, the whimperings of the little girl. I have to do something or else I'm going to be a hidden witness at a crime scene. And no matter how dramatic that sounds I will not do it. I make the police car sound with my mouth just as people are running around the corner, and although poorly constructed, the boys run off.
"Shit. It's the cops man!" I looked and they were gone.
"Are you alright?" I asked the little girl once I got near her, She curled herself into a small ball and covered her face when I approached her, but listened nonetheless.
"Por favor, hablo poco de ingles." She whispered.
"Uhmm, Donde estas su casa?" She stares at me blankly before giving off a small smile.
"Usted hablaespañolcomo un americano"
Yup that's me. The American-sepaking Hispanic. She laughs at my unamused face before getting up and walking away. She looks back at me. "Vamanos."
Since I have nowhere else to go, maybe this little girl could be of great help. She went to a market place and I follow her to a neighborhood, if you could call it that, in which the houses just kept getting smaller and more destitute by the road. Finally at the end (and I do mean very end) of the block, she knocked on the last door.
"Hija?" A female voice behind the door asked. Behind it was a short, stout woman of obvious Hispanic complexion, but had probably one of the nicest looks in her eyes that seemed to warm such a dark place.
"Mama!" The little girl jumped into her mother's arms and they hugged it out as I stood there and watched. The little girl whispered something the woman's ear and motioned me inside.
"Oh no," I responded. "I just need directions."
"No, Come in." She said, her voice thick in accent, "You must eat." I go inside and the place is more destitute than the outside makes it look. There was no furniture except for a futon in each room and a mini fridge. She placed a plate of bread and some chips in a bowl in front of me as I sit down on the floor. I thought I would be alone, but the woman and her daughter sit down also.
"Comor" I eat and I must say it is very tasty, I wouldn't have thought of anything like this because, well…
"Gracias." I smile once I finished my meal.
"Are you lost?" the woman asked slowly. I nod my head. "Where?"
"Up North, far far away from here…" and they probably don't understand me.
"Oh! Map!" Is all the said before speaking very fast Spanish to the girl. She got up and did what her mother told, which I'm guessing is get the map. "This take you home." She points to an area I didn't really focus on before. It is a patch of woods, and, although it's most likely the worst place to go through at this time of night, it seems like the fastest way back to Kim's. Especially because it leads straight to her backyard.
"Gracias." I try to say when I walk away from their house. Not very far I hear snickering.
"Probably because you speak Spanish like an American." Stupid conscience.
Throughout the entire (and thankfully safe) stroll through the dense forested area behind Kim's house I couldn't help (well I could help it, if only I was trying) but let my thoughts wander to Jerry. Where does he live? Does he live in destitute or prosperity? I mean he did just get transported into the country, so maybe he's poor. But he also said that his father got a big promotion, so maybe they're living it up in paradise houses six times larger than my home.
I climb the (fake) ladder back into the window. It is pitch black outside now and I would look like some child-molesting intruder if Kim's father were to enter right about now. Either way, I'm sneaky enough to glide in silently and go across the carpeted floor to put up my shoes.
Well, halfway anyway.
The small lamp light turns on, slightly burning my eyes, and the source of it is not so happy. Usually I'm ecstatic to see him. This time, not so much.
"Dad?"
So Grace's dad is back! And where do you think Jerry lives? I already know, but let's see who can guess right. The answer will be revealed in the next chapter.